Heart Failure: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Heart Failure?
A cardiologist, a doctor who treats heart conditions, usually leads care for heart failure. Your team may also include your primary care provider, nurses, pharmacists, and a dietitian. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure means your heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to meet your body's needs. It does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop beating. Without enough blood flow, your organs may not work well. This can cause serious problems.
Heart failure can affect one or both sides of the heart. With left-sided heart failure, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood out to the body. With right-sided heart failure, the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to the lungs. Left-sided heart failure is more common. Heart failure is most often a long-term condition, but it may come on suddenly. It is also called congestive heart failure.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on which side of the heart is affected and how serious the condition is. At first you may have no symptoms or mild ones. As the disease gets worse, symptoms usually bother you more. They may include:
- Shortness of breath when you do things like climb stairs. This may be one of the first symptoms.
- Tiredness or weakness, even after rest.
- Coughing.
- Swelling and weight gain from fluid in the ankles, lower legs, or belly.
- Trouble sleeping when lying flat.
- Nausea and loss of appetite.
- Swollen veins in the neck.
- Needing to urinate often.
Heart failure can lead to kidney or liver damage, fluid in and around the lungs, and malnutrition.
Causes and who gets it
Heart failure can start suddenly after a medical condition or injury damages the heart muscle. In most cases, it develops slowly from long-term conditions. The most common causes are coronary artery disease and high blood pressure that is not well controlled. Coronary artery disease is a narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Other causes include heart attack, heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythms, diabetes, and obesity.
Your chance goes up if you are 65 or older or have relatives with heart failure. Smoking and alcohol use disorder also raise it. African Americans are more likely to develop heart failure and to have more serious cases at younger ages.
How doctors diagnose it
Your provider will ask about your medical history and your family health history. You will have a physical exam. You will likely have heart tests and blood tests. One of them is a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) test. After an electrocardiogram (ECG), an echocardiogram (echo) is most often the best first test when doctors check for heart failure.
Treatment
There is no cure for heart failure. But treatment can help you live longer with fewer symptoms. Even with treatment, heart failure usually gets worse over time. You will likely need treatment for the rest of your life.
Most treatment plans include taking medicine. They also include eating less sodium (salt) and drinking less liquid to control fluid buildup. You may need to quit smoking, manage stress, and stay as active as your provider recommends.
Medicines treat symptoms, keep heart failure from getting worse, and help you live longer. Take them as your team directs. Ask your provider before taking any other medicines or herbs. Ibuprofen and naproxen may make heart failure worse.
Some people need a device, such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a biventricular pacemaker, or a mechanical heart pump. Surgery can repair a heart defect or damaged valve. A heart transplant may be recommended when heart failure is life-threatening and nothing else helps.
When to see a doctor
Contact your provider if you have a worse cough, more phlegm, sudden weight gain or swelling, weakness, or other new symptoms. Weight gain and leg swelling over a few days can mean your body is holding extra fluid and your heart failure is getting worse.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you faint, have trouble breathing, have chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more, or have a fast and irregular heartbeat (especially with other symptoms).
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can ask about your history, do an exam, and order first heart and blood tests. They can also refer you to a cardiologist when needed.
Common questions
Does heart failure mean the heart has stopped?
No. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop beating. It means your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
Can heart failure be cured?
No. There is no cure for heart failure. But treatment can help you live longer with fewer symptoms.
Can heart failure be prevented?
Sometimes. You may be able to prevent or delay it. Work with your provider to manage health conditions that raise your risk. Make healthy changes in your eating, exercise, and other daily habits.
What is the difference between left-sided and right-sided heart failure?
With left-sided heart failure, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood out to the body. With right-sided heart failure, the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to the lungs to get oxygen.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Heart Failure
- MedlinePlus - Heart failure (Medical Encyclopedia)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Heart Failure Treatment
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
